What are the xiangqi pieces called in Chinese?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws for movement, checkmate and both repetition rulings: a side that forces a repetition by perpetual check or perpetual chase loses rather than drawing. The chase half has not been validated against the official casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it before publishing.
Direct answer
Seven types; five are always written differently by the two sides, and many sets vary all seven. Black then Red: 將/帥 general (jiàng/shuài), 士/仕 advisor (shì), 象/相 elephant (xiàng), 馬/傌 horse (mǎ), 車/俥 chariot (jū), 砲/炮 cannon (pào), 卒/兵 soldier (zú/bīng).
The English names you will see
Translations vary and all are in use. The chariot is often called the rook or car; the horse is often the knight; the elephant is sometimes the minister or bishop; the advisor is sometimes the guard, mandarin or assistant; the soldier is often the pawn.
This site uses chariot, horse, elephant, advisor, cannon, soldier and general, which is the WXF convention and the one most literature follows.
A note on 車
In everyday Chinese 車 is read chē and means vehicle. As a xiangqi piece it is traditionally read jū. Both readings are heard from players; jū is the formal one.
Related questions
Why does each side write pieces differently?
To tell the sides apart at a glance. Some pairs sound the same, but 帥/將 and 兵/卒 do not, and the pieces move identically.
What is xiangqi called in Vietnamese?
Cờ tướng. The pieces keep their Sino-Vietnamese names: Tướng, Sĩ, Tượng, Mã, Xe, Pháo, Tốt.
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